Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914)

Director:

Henry Lehrman

Writer:

Henry Lehrman (writer)

Release Date:

7 February 1914 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Comedy

Plot:

Charlie, dressed as a tramp for the first time, goes to a baby-cart race in Venice, California. He causes a great deal of trouble and confusion...

Plot Keywords:

Automobile Racing | Public Domain | Charlie Chaplin | Race Car

Cast

Charles Chaplin	...	Tramp
Henry Lehrman	...	Film Director
Frank D. Williams	...	Camerman
Billy Jacobs	...	Boy
Charlotte Fitzpatrick	...	Girl
Thelma Salter	...	Girl
Gordon Griffith	...	Boy

Also Known As:

Kid's Auto Race
The Children's Automobile Race
The Pest (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

11 min | Canada:6 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Argentina:Atp

Company:

Keystone Film Company

Trivia:

This was the first film in which Chaplin played his most famous character, The Tramp. With only a small number of exceptions, Chaplin would play only The Tramp (or slight variations on the character) on film until The Great Dictator (1940).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009)

It's 1914 !!!

"Kids Auto Races At Venice" (1914, Lehrman) This film marks the second film Charlie acted in and the first time we would see the famous 'tramp' character. It's six minutes of Charlie at a racing cart/box/derby race thing walking onto the racing track and in front of the cameraman. He is constantly shoved or knocked out of the picture. It's neat that the film gives us the 'camera' eye as well as a couple of other points of view. So we get to see Charlie intentionally blocking the camera and getting manhandled for it repeatedly. Charlie is like a fly that won't shoo. But, alas, six minutes of one routine is a bit much. And yet, this film is as much a part of our film history as any other 'important' picture. It's 1914 dudes!!